A COMPANY wants to drill for oil and gas in the heart of the Mole Valley countryside – just a stone’s throw away from a picturesque village.

Europa Oil & Gas has applied to Surrey County Council (SCC) for permission to create a drilling site at Bury Hill Wood, off Coldharbour Lane, near Dorking.

The firm, which was awarded an exploration licence for the area in 2004, has requested permission to construct an exploratory drill site, with a plant, buildings and equipment – including a 120ft-high rig – so it can test for hydrocarbons.

Although the application said the company wanted to carry out “short term” testing, the planning permission would last up to three years if granted.

Locals incensed by the application have organised an urgent meeting to discuss the plans at 4pm on Sunday in the John Venus Hall, Coldharbour.

“It will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be lit at night – as will the whole compound for health and safety reasons – and it will be capped by a flashing aircraft warning light.

“There will be four gas and oil flare units, generators and buildings including storerooms and staff accommodation covering most of the two-acre site,” he explains on the website.

If given the go-ahead, there will also be up to 64 lorry movements in and out of the site per day via Coldharbour Lane and the A24 Knoll Road.

Clive Smith, from Mole Valley District Council planning department, said that if the plans were allowed, building and dismantling of the site would most likely cause chaos on the roads.

“The most disturbing aspect is the preparation of the site and getting the rig there,” he said. “They are proposing a one-way system along Coldharbour Lane with traffic lights for a six-week period.”

The one-way system and lights would then be put in place again for another six weeks so the site could be demobilised.

However, Mr Smith said because the company was not actually planning to excavate anything at this point, fears the area would eventually turn into an oil site could not be used as a reason to object to the plans.

“We can’t say, ‘If they find oil this place is going to be an environmental disaster’ - all we can comment on is this first stage,” he said.

Residents have until Wednesday, March 11, to submit their views on the application to SCC.